The Workshop of the Union of Eastern Anatolia Project Universities was held with the host of Atatürk University under the presidency of Prof Dr Yekta Şaraç, President of the Council of Higher Education

Along with the President of Higher Education Council M.A. Yekta Saraç, The President of the Regional Development Administer of Eastern Anatolia Project (EAP)Adnan Demir and Ministry of Development director general of regional development and structural harmonization Ömer Bilen; The rector of Erzurum Technical University Prof Dr Muamber Yaylalı, the Rector of Ardahan University Prof Dr Mehmet Biber the Rector of Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen Univesity Prof. Dr. Abdulhalik Karabulut, The Rector of   Bingöl University Prof. Dr. İbrahim Çapak, The Rector of Bitlis Eren University Prof. Dr. E. Necip Yardım, The Rector of Cumhuriyet University  Prof. Dr. Alim Yıldız, The Rector of Erzincan University Prof. Dr. İlyas Çapoğlu, The Rector of  Fırat University Prof. Dr. Kutbeddin Demirdağ,The Rector of  Hakkâri University Prof. Dr. M. Ömer Pakiş,The Rector of  Iğdır University  Prof. Dr. Mehmet Hakkı Alma, The Rector of İnönü University  Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kızılay, The Rector of Kafkas University Prof. Dr. Sami Özcan, The Rector of Munzur University Prof. Dr. Ubeyde İpek, The Rector of Muş Alparslan University  Prof. Dr. Fethi Ahmet Polat,The Rector of Yüzüncü Yıl University Prof. Dr. Peyami Battal and the authorities of UNİDAP were attend to the meeting which was held by the host of the Rector of Ataturk University Prof. Dr Ömer Çomaklı.

In the workshop which was organised with the aim of making many studies which will lead up to society and creating an effective collaboraion By mentioning the subjects about animal husbandry, human-society capital and social background, institutional capacity, background and environment , the importance of collaboration with the universities about these subject was emphasised.
 After the speech of The president of Eastern Anatolia Project (EAP)Regional Development Administration Adnan Demir and the General Manager of Ministry of Development Regional Development and Structural Harmonization Ömer Bilen concerning the agenda, The Rector of Ataturk University Ömer Çomaklı who went up to rostrum stated his happiness about being host for the meeting of EAP University Union.
 “Globalisation  is One of the most Important Concept that defines  the first quarter of  the 21th Century”
 Begining his words by underlining that one of the most important factors to change both the economic and sociocultural development of countries was educational institutes, The Rector Çomaklı said “Universities contribute particularly to the development of the cities where they are established and these contributions spread around the country. Another most important main factor of regional development is culture.
 Our university, which has entered a serious and rapid transformation process, has so far mainly planned to make significant work on creating cultural demand by going beyond the status of being a cultural source. As Mr. Sayin also expressed in various ways, "Globalization is one of the most important concept that defines the first quarter of the 21st century in terms of international political economy.

 Eastern Anatolia region has all the basic conditions that will provide a rapid development process. By planning and carrying out the projects which is suitable for these conditions, we are attributing them especially to the public. I can gladly and proudly say that Atatürk University has been focusing on this target with a rapid planning since the date we took the responsibility of being the Rector. In order to be able to take a strong position for the future, It has embodied an important part of a planning that sees significant changes in its organizational structure

We have turned our  attention to the potential our city has

By drawing attention that  the most important aim of the universities which were decribed as “3rd role” by  following the global developments is being global, Prof Dr Ömer Çomaklı finished  his words by saying “I want to mention that we are ready to do everything to be  done with our partners in order to search, apply and share the knowledge,  experience and proficiency based on the mutual benefit.

I care a lot the meeting we  held today as it is the base for analysis and syntheses for sustainable regional  development with the frame of the mutual mind, interaction and cooperation  titles. Together with both my workmates in administration and professional  academicians in academic units, we have turned our attention to the potential  our city has. The decisions which were taken in the past two meetings and the  regulated reports have given us the direction.

In this regard, rapidly completing the new forming which can respond the need of the age, will contribute and direct the development of the region is our biggest aim. I wish our meeting in which the problems of the region will be discussed, the solution proposal will be put on the table, the exchange of idea will be carried out, interviews will be made with the aim of making the investments and services in the right, planned, efficient and fruitful way to be productive and also I wish it to be good for our country.

 “Being  in This Exceptional City of Eastern Anatolia Has Always Fascinated me”

The President of Higher Education Council (YOK-HEC)M.A. Yekta Saraç who began his speech by expressing his happiness to be both in Ataturk University which is one of the most reputable and oldest universities and the land of Dadas who express the courage, deep respect and patriotism stated “ Being in this exceptional city of both Eastern Anatolia and our country whose history reaches  4000 B.C has always fascinated me. I would like to express my gratitude to Ataturk University and Ömer Çomaklı for being the host of the meeting and I grate you all our rectors and all the members of the meeting. Given the goal of our country to be one of the world’s 10 major economy in 2023, achieving this goal will only be possible with qualified knowledge production and a qualified human factor. And this makes having the competitive higher education system on a global scale necessary.”

 “Universities are expected to be the main  actors in regional Development”

The President of  (HEC) M.A. Yekta Saraç who mentioned that globalisation is one of the most important concept that defines the first quarter of the 21th century said “ the countries ,like Turkey, which are considered among the developing and rising force catagories, aim to improve regional relations and regional development which is one the most important level of globalisation with the effort to the what is necessary  for the international studies spreading around the world and provide integration on this field.

The effect which the universities create in sustainable development is spreading rapidly not only to the place they are in but also the geographical region they are near. There appears the tendency of the universities’ being regional by both following the global development and by connecting the region focusing on the problems of the region. Increasing the influence of universities on regional economy and social structure is described as “3^rd role”. This concept is really a serious view that has emerged in the last decade. Researching and sharing of the presented knowledge, experience and proficiency based on the mutual benefit are being expressed as the main aim here. That’s to say that universities are expected to be the main actors in regional development.”

 “We are here to express the determination of  carrying our studies more planned, more comprehensively and more enthusiastically”  

In this regard, emphasising that they are together with the 16 universities of our 15 cities, the presidency of Regional Development Administer of EAP and local development agencies, Prof Dr Yekta Saraç finished his word by saying that: “As the Council of Higher Education, we are here with a total of 6,031 faculty members in 16 universities to express our determination to carry out projects that can be carried out in the name of sustainable regional development, within the framework of collective intelligence, interaction and collaboration, with more planned, more comprehensive and enthusiastic efforts to put forward analysis and synthesis on the basis of anticipation of the future. I would like to take this opportunity to thank dear Director General of Ministry of Development, Dear Rectors and the dear delegates of EAP Regional Development Administer for their attending.”

After the speeches, The Workshop of the Union of Eastern Anatolia Project Universities (UNIDAP) was held under the presidency of Prof Dr Yekta Şaraç President of the Council of Higher Education with the participation of 16 UNIDAP member universities which are located in Eastern Anatolia Project cities.

After the workshop, President Saraç together with the Rector Çomaklı visited the Project Support Office and the coordinatorship of scientific research projects which are carrying out studies within the Rectorship of Ataturk University.

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